"Me and Tara got your backs, too. Can cast illusion, get Gabby on the crystal ball to divine before they come at you, do money transfers, IDs. shit like that to keep 'em blind topside once Krissy and J.L. find out where your next move is gonna be," Yonnie offered, staring at Carlos.
"I'll work with J.L. and Dan," Jose said. "We've gotta now figure out
some mobile early warning systems that include human predators." He sighed and let his breath out hard. "I'm not sure how to do that, though, and stay to the mission of keeping everybody in the Light, since we ain't never dropped a human body, but might have to, if they're coming for us."
"Then we'd better find a way to have a private conversation with our clerical crew, 'cause all I know is, dropping a human body isn't as easy as it sounds, Jose," Berkfield warned, gaining nods of agreement from Rider and Big Mike, as well as Shabazz. "Trust me, junior, you don't want any man's blood on your hands."
Cain pushed away from the wall, speaking for the first time since they'd dealt with the near tragedy of Shabazz shooting Kamal in the small house. "This man is wise. He is correct. It is unpardonable and carries a heavy karmic debt." Marjorie shook her head. "Avoidance. That's the best strategy. Juanita, Inez, and I are supposed to be seers, too." She glanced at the other women in the room. "Marlene can't be the only one who carries this burden for the team. She, like us, is only human. Therefore, we have to help and step up our efforts. If we can be on point, take turns, sense when a pending invasion is about to happen, then we won't have to take a human life--no matter how despicable it might be."
"Yeah," Jose said, his gaze becoming gentle as it went to Marlene. "We can leave messages for the people in our music. We can upload MP3 files on the Net through J.L. and Krissy's efforts, and go guerrilla. Those humans on our side will help hide us, those not down will have to try to decode what's in the newest release we put out there, one song at a time. No direct messages, everything in code through the music."
Cain weaved and braced his weight on the wall. All eyes turned and stared at him. "I must return."
Damali looked up at him, but didn't release Marlene who rested with her eyes closed against Damali's chest. "Are you all right?"
"My kingdom is in tuKnoil. My people are being slaughtered."
"What's going on, man?" Carlos said, not sure why he was suddenly so concerned.
"I can feel it," Cain whispered, "just like I can feel the earth plane's density weighing in on me. My limbs... the gravity is so heavy... the putrid vibrations of hate and violence and pain, so visceral. There is not enough Light. The night is dark. I do not like what the sensation of dark atmosphere does to me, or what it places within my mind. It is too dense. He inhaled through his mouth as though he were drowning. "Were this not hallowed ground I do not know what would become of me."
Damali gave Shabazz a look to let him know that it \was all right tor him to finally take up her position holding Marlene. She stood and gently slid Marlene into Shabazz's tight embrace and went to Cain.
"How do we get you back? I will go stand with you in battle until order is restored. Let me move the team into safety, then--"
"Hold up, D," Carlos said carefully. "Your primary mission is here."
If a glare could have cut, Carlos would have been feeling his throat for the slice. Fury tore through her. "I know my primary mission, brother," Damali said coolly, making the room go still. "I also know that it is not in our code as Neterus to abandon a friend." She returned her gaze to Cain. "The civil unrest, how bad do you sense it? I can--"
"No," Cain said, his breaths becoming more ragged as he spoke. "He is right. The blade of Asuar is the only thing that has kept the peace for many years. I could not in good conscience put you in harm's way, although you are more than worthy as a warrior. The hybrid beings on the side of Light are in the minority. Angels only rarely transgressed the edict not to mingle with humans... there are not many of those, and even some of them have gone dark. However, as you can imagine, the other side... the scales are unbalanced. The human breaches must stop. Each invasion creates a taunt, drives frenzy throughout Nod. Each incident wreaks unimaginable havoc."
Cain's eyes became sadder as he glanced around the team and allowed his gaze to again settle on Damali, their minds meeting with silent understanding. "Soon, I will not be able to keep them from the ravine or learning how to cross the barrier as the veil weakens. Then your plane will be overrun, Hell's weakened gates will open to join the legions with those hybrid forces. But the hybrids are impossible to delineate in their untransitioned forms, and they can conceal themselves within your human population making your people vulnerable day and night to attack. Humans could accidentally annihilate themselves, mistaking a demon-hybrid for one of their own. Karmic debt would spiral, adding to the minions of Hell's army. Therefore, I must return and guard the veil to ensure that never occurs."
"If you go back alone, then, you have to go back strong. What can I do?" Damali said nearing him, her voice tightening with worry.
"Your counsel is wise, but I do not know the answer to your question," Cain murmured, ignoring all others in the room while gazing at Damali. "I do not fully understand this earth realm now. When I walked the earth as a man, the weapons were different. The inventions were different, even while based upon our foundations of knowledge. I have read all there was up to the point that Nod was swept into the void and cloaked behind the veil. Ours was an advanced civilization, but there are new implements that leave me unknowing."
His eyes held an apology as he continued to stare at Damali for answers. "I have received impressions, from you. But that is not full knowing or comprehension of what has been witnessed. I have pondered... dwelled, on the many things your beautiful Neteru eyes have shown me. There is so much that I saw. Things... types of illumination, panels, poison darts..."
"He's talking about the lab, tranquilizer guns, all this modern technology shit... the computers and whatever else he's seen from Damali." Rider ran his hands down his face and let out a tension-riddled breath. "Don't get me wrong, the guy is definitely an awesome fighting machine and the wildest healer I've ever witnessed, but he's out of time. A few centuries short on what's happening or what we're up against, D. If he goes with us, it would be like putting the fastest gunslinger in the West up against a semiautomatic--yeah, he'd get a shot off before the other gunfighter could draw, but he'd probably die from the still-firing rounds of a dead man. We've gotta find a way to send him back before he takes a bullet."
Cain tore his gaze from Damali's to briefly stare at Rider. "What is this, bullet?"
Damali closed her eyes and gave Cain a hug, ignoring Carlos's instant bristle.
"I can show him, D. No problem," Carlos muttered. "A nine, hollow point--"
"If you have a legitimate grievance," Cain said, extricating himself from Damali's hold, "state it. Outside. Not where innocent women or children could be harmed, or the mother-seer will be traumatized further. Shall we?"
"No," Damali said as Carlos headed for the door. "One team. We have to get our squad to safety; Cain is weakening in this density--"
"Rest assured, my love, I am not so thoroughly depleted that I cannot crush this young, foolish--"
"Step outside, motherfucker--now," Carlos whispered. "That's the last time you call her anything but Damali in my face."
To Carlos's surprise, Damali spun on him and not Cain. Her tone was eerily calm.
"This man just saved my mother's life. This man just abandoned his entire kingdom to ensure nothing came through the veil. My mother and this whole family has been through enough, and we have a serious situation." She glanced at Marlene as her mother- seer weakly lifted her head. "Marlene is in recovery. We only have a few hours to act before we have to move out again."